Guest Host: Thomas Roberts
Guests: Melissa Harris-Perry, Rep. Terri Sewell, Jon Ralston, Patricia Maische, Jonathan Alter
THOMAS ROBERTS, GUEST HOST: I‘m Thomas Roberts, filling in for Lawrence O‘Donnell. Lawrence will be back on Monday.
People across the South need help. There‘s the tornado devastation, floods and fires in Texas. And state governors are asking for help. From where you wonder? From the federal government.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I‘ve got to say, I have never seen devastation like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a test for FEMA.
ROBERTS (voice-over): The destruction is astonishing. State emergency operators are pushed to the limit. And the states need help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This town has been completely destroyed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This entire area is cleared out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The damage has spread over six states.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still, scenes of utter devastation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They‘re going to need a lot of help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We asked the president for aid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He sent the deputy director of FEMA.
OBAMA: The maximum federal help comes here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am grateful to the federal government.
ROBERTS: The same that Republicans say needs to be smaller.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell Washington that no longer are we going to accept their oppressive hand in the state of Texas.
REP. RON PAUL ®, TEXAS: I don‘t believe in the income tax. You believe in the income tax? Hell no!
RACHEL MADDOW, “TRMS” HOST: You can‘t be the guy that builds this.
You have to be the country that builds something like this.
ROBERTS: And while elected officials are debating government and the president is managing a crisis, Donald Trump was doing this.
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MAGNATE : We have nobody in Washington that sits back and says you are not going to raise that (EXPLETIVE DELETED) price. I‘m interested in Libya if we keep the oil. Give me a freaking break.
We build another school. We build another road. They blow them up. We build again. In the meantime, we can‘t get a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) school built in Brooklyn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations, Donald Trump. Thank you. You‘re welcome.
TRUMP: Listen you mother (EXPLETIVE DELETED), we‘re going to tax you 25 percent.
ROBERTS: But who could have been listening to Donald Trump when all of this was going on?
PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES: I, William Arthur Phillip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, guys weeping like a little baby throughout the entire service.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Photographs last forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch carefully, we are going to replay it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Slow. Slow it down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, lovely.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Good evening from New York.
We begin tonight in the Southeast where residents are still recovering from an outbreak of at least 137 tornadoes that devastated the region this week. The death toll climbed to 327 today, making this the deadliest tornado outbreak since 1932 and the deadliest natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina.
According to the latest figures, storms caused 34 deaths in Tennessee, 34 in Mississippi, 15 in Georgia, five in Virginia and one in Kentucky. Alabama hit the hardest with 238 reported dead. At least 30 of those deaths were in Tuscaloosa.
President Obama visiting that area today and to survey the damage in detail, how the federal government will help with the recovery efforts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We just took a tour, and I‘ve got to say, I‘ve never seen devastation like this. I‘m very pleased that we got a FEMA director in Craig Fugate, who is as experienced as anybody in responding to disasters even of this magnitude. And we‘ve already provided the disaster designations—we‘ve already provided the disaster designations that are required to make sure that the maximum federal help comes here as quickly as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Now, the president has declared a federal emergency in Alabama. And FEMA officials are evaluating how federal funds might help in the relief in Virginia and Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, as well as Georgia.
Joining me now by phone is Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who represents Tuscaloosa, and was with the president earlier today.
Congresswoman, thanks for joining us tonight.
REP. TERRI SEWELL (D), ALABAMA (via telephone): Absolutely. Thanks for inviting me.
ROBERTS: Absolutely.
We want to get your reaction to how the president and your time with the president today as he toured the devastation there. What was it like to be with him and what was it like to see the emotions that you could clearly read on his face?
SEWELL: Well, first of all, the state of Alabama experienced back-to-back severe weather. None of the devastation and magnitude of these tornadoes, but two weeks ago the same district was hit by tornadoes. So, you know, the fact that the president came to Alabama when there‘s devastation, as you expressed, all over the United States, we‘re just blessed that he came to see.
You can‘t really imagine this devastation until you actually see it with your own eyes. And, you know, he said that he thought this was one of the worst things he had ever seen.
So, I‘m—you know, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, Tuscaloosa is but one part of the state that was so badly, badly affected.
ROBERTS: What has been the government‘s role in the rescue taking place there currently?
Congresswoman? Can you hear me? Congresswoman Sewell, can you still hear me?
Unfortunately, we lost contact with the congresswoman. I‘ll try one more time.
Congresswoman Sewell, can you hear me?
Unfortunately, we‘ve lost our connection there with the congresswoman. But we want to express our thoughts and prayers are certainly with that devastated area. And we want to thank the congresswoman for her time.
Joining me is associate professor of politics and African-American studies at Princeton University, MSNBC analyst, Melissa Harris-Perry.
Melissa, it‘s good to see you.
MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY, MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR: Very nice to be here.
ROBERTS: All right. So, Melissa, what is the role, as I was asking right there of the congresswoman before we got cut off—the role of the government in this type of circumstance? I wasn‘t able to get an answer from her about what‘s taking place there currently.
But in your estimation, what should it be?
HARRIS-PERRY: Let me start by saying I have a great deal of respect for the congresswoman. She‘s an alum of the university where I now teach and I have some of—for whom I have a great respect. And as someone who now lives in post-Katrina New Orleans, I can tell you that I also feel, I think, as many Americans do deeply emotionally for the suffering that is occurring in families and communities there in Alabama.
So, you know, I think that it calls us as a people and, of course, the way that we are called as a people, one of the most important ways that we respond collectively is through the government. And so, a moment like this -- a moment like this disaster or like the disaster of Hurricane Katrina coming on six years ago now, reminds us that when we need to reach out to each other, when we need to provide resources to each other, the single most efficient and effective and humane and just way to do it is through swift government action.
ROBERTS: Melissa, let‘s talk more about that, specifically about FEMA. And let‘s look at the cuts to FEMA in the 2011 continuing resolution budget. FEMA first responder grant, $786 million. FEMA flood map modernization fund, $38 million. FEMA national pre-disaster mitigation fund, $50 million. And FEMA emergency food and shelter, that stands at $80 million.
So, Congress has really politicized this organization again, hasn‘t it, Melissa?
HARRIS-PERRY: Yes. I think there‘s no doubt about that. And, again, you know, for those of us about to head into hurricane season, for all those people in all of the affected states right now by the tornadoes, this lack of disaster planning is indicative of precisely the kind of shortsightedness going on with the federal government now.
I mean, quite honestly, what we know about these sorts of disasters is, you know, we‘re all subject to them. Anyone at anytime could have a natural disaster. But the people most likely to have the worst victimization are the people who are most vulnerable—the elderly, the disabled, those who are poor, young children.
And if you look at our current budget crisis, and the choices being made by Republicans, they are cutting exactly the kinds of disaster planning both for long-term disasters and short-term disasters for exactly those vulnerable populations.
ROBERTS: Melissa, I want to ask you to stand by because we were able to get Congresswoman Sewell back on the line. Obviously, cell service is a little bit in and out in the area.
But, Congresswoman, you can hear me now, correct?
SEWELL: I can. I‘m so sorry. I‘m actually surveying the areas of my district in Birmingham now. So, I apologize, really bad service.
ROBERTS: No need to apologize whatsoever. But I do want to ask you:
what is the current role of government right now in the continuing rescue and recovery efforts there?
SEWELL: Yes, well, the National Guard is here. The governor has also
you know, because of the orders the president gave, been able to offer some local assistance with respect to the recovery efforts. So, you know, it‘s slow going, frankly. And we are going to be, I think, in the days of rebuilding and recovery for a very long time.
ROBERTS: President Obama declared a federal emergency for the state of Alabama. How important is that declaration right now? And also, in your estimation, how important is FEMA to what your state is going through right now?
SEWELL: Well, I have to tell you that the declaration is of utmost importance. I mean, (INAUDIBLE) affected of all deadly storms and tornadoes that we‘ve experienced has really put a great strain in local government and state government‘s resources. So, having FEMA here and federal assistance available to the citizens in Alabama, it‘s just—it really will help rebuilding our community.
ROBERTS: Congresswoman Sewell, we‘re going to let you get back to surveying the damage in your state. But, again, our hearts and prayers are with you and everybody there—
SEWELL: Hello?
ROBERTS: -- who are devastated through this. Obviously, again, we are having difficulty with our connection there.
Melissa, you‘re still with me, right? You haven‘t left me?
HARRIS-PERRY: I am.
ROBERTS: All right. Good. As we heard right there, the president declaring federal emergency for Alabama.
But oddly enough, this is not taking place in Texas. Wildfires there have leveled nearly 2 million acres, killed two firefighters as well.
I want you to listen to Tea Party-backed Texas Governor Rick Perry‘s reaction to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY ®, TEXAS: There‘s a point in time when you say, hey, what‘s going on here? I mean, why are you taking care of Alabama? Why are you taking care of other states? And for some reason other, you know, the letter didn‘t get lost in the mail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: OK. So, that‘s not easy for a Tea Party-backed governor like Rick Perry to say, is it?
HARRIS-PERRY: No. I mean, look, this is - this is a governor that at one point talked about secession, you know, who basically said, I don‘t need that federal government. And particularly that language of “take care of”—you know, there‘s an attack on the notion of the nanny state and this language about, we want the government to be small enough to drown in the bathtub.
But the thing is, if your federal government is drowning in the
bathtub, it cannot throw a life preserver to you. I mean, these moments
remind us that this kind of intense need is precisely why the collective
will of the people, right, the government, is here. This is what it‘s for
it is for moments like this and for the long term planning against broader disasters that continue to impact all of us.
ROBERTS: Melissa, I want to switch topics and get your take on the Indiana‘s Republican governor, Mitch Daniels, announcing he‘s going to sign a bill that restricts abortions and makes Indiana the first state to cut off all government funding for Planned Parenthood. I want to read you part of his statement that he put out.
It said, “I commissioned a careful review of access to services across the state and can confirm that all non-abortion services, whether family planning or basic women‘s health, will remain ready available in every one of our 92 counties. In addition, I have ordered the Family and Social Services Administration to see that Medicaid recipients receive prompt notice of nearby care options.”
So, do you buy Governor Daniels‘ argument that women in Indiana will still have full access to these services?
HARRIS-PERRY: Of course not. And I know that for some viewers, this might seem like an abrupt shift from talking about a disaster to talking about this. But I think this is exactly what we need to be doing. If we think that disaster is only the flood, the tsunami, the earthquake, then we are missing that the suffering that are fellow citizens endure most of the time are long-term disasters of poverty, of homelessness, of joblessness and, frankly, the most central ones are the disasters of lack of our access to health care, and particularly for women.
The fact is, for the first several decades of a young woman‘s life, from about 18, you know, to about 50, reproductive health care is the number one form of health care that we are seeking. To shut it off, to shut off access to it, to even turn that tap down a little in this kind of circumstances is basically to invite a tsunami of health crisis for the women of Indiana. And it is appalling to see exactly this kind of state-based decision to create disaster.
And when these disasters come, the whole point is that we need government there to help us, not to make things worse.
ROBERTS: Melissa, thanks for rolling with the punches here with me tonight. I appreciate it.
MSNBC political analyst, Melissa Harris-Perry—again, thanks for joining me tonight.
HARRIS-PERRY: Thanks for having me.
ROBERTS: So, coming up, F-bombs a plenty from Donald Trump who follows up Newt Gingrich‘s cheerleading of American exceptionalism with “We‘re not a great country.” You‘re going to hear what he said about China, coming up.
And the National Rifle Association meets this weekend, but not without protest. One of the people that helped to stop the Tucson massacre is joining me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: The NRA meets this weekend. Gun control advocates want their voices heard as well. And they are bringing in one of the people who helped stopped gunman Jared Lee Loughner in Tucson to help them. She‘s going to join us.
And Donald Trump‘s documents are coming back to bite him, namely, his draft records, the story he tells about why he didn‘t get drafted and what the records actually show—next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Donald Trump. All comedians love Donald Trump. If God gave comedians the power to invent people, the first person we would invent is Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Donald Trump continuing to grab media attention as he stumps along his speaking circuit and the more Trump speaks, the more he contradicts himself. I mean, we all know how he feels about China, right? Or do we?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
TRUMP: China is taking advantage and abusing us.
They are sort of friends of mine, competitors but friends. I‘d drop a 25 percent tax on China.
I am very strongly against tax increases.
We are being abused by China. They are taking tremendous numbers of our jobs. They are making a lot of our products.
I made a lot of money by the way with people in China. I made a lot of money.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
ROBERTS: Yet, despite Trump‘s talk of imposing a 25 percent tax on Chinese products, he frequently goes to China for materials to outfit his buildings and those impeccable suits and ties in the Donald J. Trump signature collection, well, they all carry a “made in China” tag.
Donald Trump is clear on his stance on abortion as well, or is he? He was once pro-choice, but now proudly proclaims to be pro-life.
So, what could go wrong there?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC NEWS: Is there a right to privacy in the Constitution?
TRUMP: I guess there is. I guess there is.
GUTHRIE: So, how is that --
TRUMP: Just out of curiosity, why do you ask that question?
GUTHRIE: Well, I‘m just wondering how that squares with your pro-life views.
TRUMP: Well, it‘s a pretty strange way of getting to pro-life. I mean, it‘s a very unique way of asking about pro-life. Why are you—what does that have to do with privacy? How are you equating pro-life with privacy?
GUTHRIE: Well, you know about the Roe v. Wade decision?
TRUMP: Yes. Look, I‘m for pro-life—I am pro-life. I‘ve said it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: All right. So, there in a matter of 30 second, Trump manages to contradict himself, but we want to get Trump a break—after all, when he says something, he really means it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN: You told Eliot Spitzer this week that if Obama released this, if the president released this, you would release your tax returns.
TRUMP: Well, >> I don‘t know what I told Eliot Spitzer.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Excuse me. Maybe I‘m going to do the tax returns when Obama does his birth certificate.
Excuse me, I‘ll be doing my tax returns at the appropriate time. I haven‘t even announced yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: An announcement that THE LAST WORD believes will never happen.
Well, joining me now is Jon Ralston, political analyst and “Las Vegas Sun” columnist, also host of “Face-to-Face.”
Jon, it‘s good to see you.
Donald Trump, despite his contradictions, so to speak, seems to really
rile up the crowd last night at a Las Vegas casino. So, what was he doing
preaching to the choir there?
JON RALSTON, LAS VEGAS SUN: Yes. Essentially, he was preaching to a group of people who were looking for something interesting. You know, the Republican field is kind of boring. And so, compared to Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty, Donald Trump is interesting.
But I guess that wasn‘t enough for him because he was quite vulgar during that speech, dropped a few F-bombs and said all kinds of crazy stuff. I mean, it‘s clear that the only thing he‘s consistent on is being pro-Trump.
ROBERTS: And Donald Trump does seem to say one thing and then maybe do another.
Jon, I want you to take a listen to what he said this past Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don‘t make up anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: But just the day before, he said this about how he was able to avoid the draft.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I‘ll never forget that was an amazing period of time in my life. I was sitting at college watching, I was going to the Wharton School of Finance. And I was watching as they did a draft numbers. And I got a very, very high number, and those numbers never got up to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Now, the problem is that Trump graduated in 1968. So, Jon, the draft wasn‘t or the draft was televised, that is, on December 1st, 1969. So, when we hear these things, you know, coming out of Trump‘s mouth, something from the left, something from the right, what do you know to believe?
RALSTON: Well, you can‘t believe anything he says, obviously. And we‘ve had our own local experience here with us. He has the Trump Tower here on The Strip. He marketed 64 floors and never made it there. He said it was sold out.
My producer investigated, found out only 14 percent of the units were sold. He just says whatever comes into his head. But that‘s interesting. Unfortunately, to people in our business and to partisans who are looking for somebody, especially somebody in the Republican Party who will take on Barack Obama in any way, in any crazy way, whether questioning where he was born or saying he wasn‘t smart enough to get into Columbia or Harvard. He‘s just—he‘s a buffoon. He‘s an entertainer and a clown.
ROBERTS: The daily deals Web site Groupon.com announced that it‘s going to be pulling its ads from “The Apprentice” Web site, distancing itself from the political criticism. A statement n the site‘s blog reads in part, “Enough consumers have contacted us to warn, ensuring that we don‘t place ads on “The Apprentice” home page in the future.
So, is this just the tip of the iceberg, Jon? And will it matter to someone like Trump?
RALSTON: Yes, I don‘t—unfortunately, I think he‘s the kind of guy who thinks any kind of attention is good, whether it‘s positive or negative. He just loves being in the spotlight, which some people might say suits him pretty well for politics, right? Because a lot of politicians are that way.
But I got to believe, a year from now, when we are talking about the 2012 election race, we won‘t be talking Donald Trump, we‘ll forget this very sad episode in American political history.
ROBERTS: Yes. The old phrase seems to work here, he who cares the least has the most power. And that‘s what I kind of get out of hearing him speak.
Jon Ralston, political analyst and “Las Vegas Sun” columnist—thanks for joining me tonight. Appreciate it.
RALSTON: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Still to come, protest at the NRA convention this weekends. One of the people that helped stop the Tucson massacre is there to tell gun owners what she thinks. And she‘s going to join us.
Also, coming up, if you are comparing today‘s wedding to Prince Charles and Princess Diana 30 years ago, so are our producers. A look at the differences and the similarities side by side, coming up.
And then fake dictators and real politicians, well, they cross paths on “30 Rock.”
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You broke up with Condoleezza Rice by text?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Me plus you equals frowny face.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, you can‘t call her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMEMRCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, Boehner, we‘re all upset. I mean, it‘s my wife. John, stop crying. I can‘t understand you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: OK. So, that wasn‘t really House Speaker John Boehner on the other end of the phone. But last night‘s episode of “30 Rock” did feature a familiar face or two. And in case you missed it, Alec Baldwin‘s Jack Donaghy character is forced to turn to an old flame for help after seeing an urgent news bulletin delivered by a very highly respected cable news anchor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: We go now to a pre-tape statement from super crazy Korean dictator, Kim Jong-il.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As we all know, the dissident Western journalist spy Laura Ling left us because she can‘t party as hard as we can.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know right? But now, another American reporter have come to North Korea because it‘s awesome and we have enough food.
ROBERTS: One of our own, NBC‘s Avery Jessup Donaghy detained in North Korea. More on that as it develops.
But, first, it‘s never too early to plan your dog‘s Halloween costume.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, look what the cat dragged in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, Condi. You‘re looking well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, I‘ve been to the DMC. They have signs. Can your wife not read?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We‘re all adults here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, what is it? Is she funnier than I am?
She‘s certainly not younger, is she?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Condi, we are not doing this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, we are doing this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I‘m sorry I broke up with you by text. I‘m sorry I went drinking with Karl Rove on Valentine‘s Day. I‘m sorry that I said your favorite movie was lame.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: “Mars Attacks” is awesome. Now, admit that I‘m better at the piano than you are at the flute.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never.
(PLAYING PIANO)
(PLAYING FLUTE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Follow this, you turkey.
(PLAYING PIANO)
(PLAYING FLUTE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, you are better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I‘ll see what I can do, Jack. Get out of here before this gets weird.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You‘re the turkey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Pretty good stuff.
All right. So, still to come, another royal wedding fades into memory. But just how different could a 1981 wedding be from today‘s festivities side-by-side? What a difference 30 years makes.
But first, as the NRA kicks off its annual convention with speeches from politicians and presidential hopefuls, gun control advocates are outside asking the attendees to remember something, the Tucson massacre --- the six who died, the 13 who live. One of those who kept it from being much worse joins me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: In the Spotlight tonight, the failure to launch. The Space Shuttle Endeavor was supposed to lift off at noon today in front of 700,000 onlookers, President Obama and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is still recovering from the mass shooting at her constituent event in Tucson last January.
Her husband, Mark Kelly, is the commander of this mission. But a short circuit of two heating units on that shuttle has delayed the launch at least until Monday.
And in Pittsburgh today, one of the heroes from the Gifford‘s shooting is also waiting—waiting for the National Rifle Association to sit down with the Obama administration to discuss gun measures that could prevent future tragedies.
Sixty one year old Patricia Maische wrestled a fresh magazine of bullets away from shooter Jared Loughner while he tried to reload, and then joined several men as they struggled to hold Loughner down, clinging to his ankles.
Patricia Maisch joins me now from outside the NRA Convention in Pittsburgh. Patricia, it‘s nice to see you tonight. I want to start out with your decision to go there. Why did you want to travel to the NRA Convention this year?
PATRICIA MAISCH, WRESTLED BULLETS FROM TUSCON SHOOTER: I wanted to ask the NRA to engage us in trying to find some common ground on the issue of national background check system, so that all people who shouldn‘t have guns are in that system, and that all gun sales do have to do a background check.
ROBERTS: Patricia, you put a very human face on the tragedy that happened in Tucson. Your presence has to be turning heads. So I want to know, have you been able to talk to anyone with the NRA and share your views?
MAISCHE: No, I haven‘t. I arrived today. We have been out in front of the convention center. But we haven‘t advertised ourselves. The letter that‘s behind me, it has the names of 100 people, families that have been affected by gun violence in some way.
My name is up there. I have not been—I have not been sorrowed by losing anyone. I have been sorrowed by the incidents on January 8th, and have become friends with many of those people and really sympathize with the loss of their loved ones and the injuries they have sustained.
ROBERTS: Prior to January 8th, what type of opinion did you have about gun control in this country?
MAISCHE: I always thought you should have guns to defend yourself if you chose to. I don‘t have any guns in my house, but that doesn‘t mean I don‘t think other people shouldn‘t. So I was always neutral on it in the past.
ROBERTS: So you do believe in the constitutional right to bear arms. It‘s the problem that stems from the availability of the clips we are seeing on our screen right now, these extended magazine clips.
I know you said that you haven‘t publicized or advertised the fact that you are there. Hopefully this interview is going to do that for you and the proper at the NRA are going to see this. But what are you hoping to accomplish with the rally tomorrow?
MAISCHE: We are hoping to bring to the forefront to the NRA how many people have been affected, and to show the nation that we are committed to trying to make a bit of a change in the—to make the existing laws more effective, to engage those laws completely.
ROBERTS: Are you surprised by how little has changed since the shooting, that it didn‘t spur quicker action?
MAISCHE: I am a little bit surprised about that. The city of Tucson, the community—there has been very kind and generous to all of us. But I don‘t see that the nation has taken it to heart. Even some people in Arizona haven‘t taken it to heart.
ROBERTS: I know you said that you do believe in an individual‘s right to bear arms. Your Governor Jan Brewer recently signed a bill making the Colt Single Action Army Revolver the official state gun of Arizona. So in your opinion, do you think it‘s a little insensitive to you and the people who lost loved ones or wounded at the Giffords shooting only three months ago—that the legislature would make passing a bill like that such a priority?
MAISCHE: It does make me sad that they have chosen to do that over all the other important issues that we are contending with in Arizona. I don‘t take it as a front. The politics in Arizona is pretty conservative. That‘s one of their issues.
But, I do find it sad that they choose to do that right now, in light of the Giffords shooting, but more importantly, in light of the fact that we have so many other issues that should be their priority.
ROBERTS: Patricia, when you think back to that day of the shooting and you think back to how brave and courageous you were for what you did, do you think that there‘s anything you would do differently? I‘m sure you have played this over in your mind, over and over again since that day.
MAISCHE: You must know by now that I don‘t think I did anything heroic. I believe that Bill Badger and Roger Solzkaper (ph) are the real heroes. They are the ones that tackled him when they didn‘t know the status of his gun.
I just was after the fact they had tackled him, and I was able to get the magazine. But they are the true heroes. I‘m glad I was able to play a small part in that extraordinary event.
I still do not consider myself a hero. I think most people would have reacted the way I did. It wasn‘t an act. It was a reaction. I‘m glad I was there to serve that small part.
ROBERTS: You don‘t have to call yourself a hero. But I think, in my humble opinion, you are. Thanks for joining us tonight. We wish you the best in your efforts there to get an audience with someone from the NRA to hear your concerns. Thank you again, Patricia.
MAISCHE: Thank you, I appreciate the time.
ROBERTS: Rachel Maddow will have special coverage on this weekend‘s event at the NRA convention. You can catch her show Monday at 9:00 p.m., right here on MSNBC.
Coming up next, you know, it‘s jokingly referred to as the nerd prom, the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. Presidents and comedians share the stage. Jonathan Alter with a look at why that happens, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN COLBERT, “THE COLBERT REPORT”: I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least. By these standards, we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.
I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares.
That sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo-ops in the world.
WANDA SYKES, COMEDIAN: Dick Cheney, that‘s a scary man. He scares me to death. I tell my kids—I said, look, if two cars pull up and one has a stranger and the other car has Dick Cheney, you get in the car with the stranger.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Even though the mainstream press gives me a hard time, I hear that I‘m still pretty big on Twitter, Facebook or as Sarah Palin calls it, the socialized media.
It‘s been quite a year since I have spoken here last. Lots of ups, lots of downs, except for my approval ratings, which have just gone down.
But that‘s politics. It doesn‘t bother me. Besides, I happen to know my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth. So—
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: All right. So in the media, we call it the nerd prom, as if the royal wedding wasn‘t enough pomp and circumstance for the week, tomorrow night is the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington.
In the past few years, President Obama has shown us that he can hit a punch line, do so very well, sometimes even better than the comedians that are headlining the gala.
This year, “Saturday Night Live” head writer and the anchor for “SNL‘s” Weekend Update Seth Meyers will have the task of following the president. He‘s already been getting some pointers from NBC “Nightly News” anchor, Brian Williams.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MEYERS, “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”: I was a little nervous to begin with. And then the minute I accepted, Brian Williams, our friend Brian Williams—
JIMMY FALLON, THE LATE SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON”: Bri-Wi.
MEYERS: Yes, Bri-Wi. He sent me an e-mail being like toughest room in the business, no man comes out unscathed. Even the knees of brave Achilles would go to jelly where he to stand behind that podium.
Let me know if I can help.
Here‘s how you can help, lose my e-mail.
FALLON: Exactly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: All right, so Meyers and the president will be in front of a packed crowd of around 2,600 tomorrow night, a veritable whose who from the world of journalism, politics, and, of course, Hollywood.
Joining me now, MSNBC political analyst and author of “The Promise,
President Obama Year One,” Jonathan Alter. Jonathan, Seth Meyers has been
--
JONATHAN ALTER, “NEWSWEEK”: Hey, Thomas.
ROBERTS: -- has been talking a lot this week, saying that it took him a while to agree to do this gig. One reason, the guy that goes before it.
ALTER: Right. Right. Look—
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: I‘m worried because Obama speaks first and he kills.
FALLON: He‘s really good. I was at this last year. He destroys.
MEYERS: So then I have to follow Obama. Even if I do just as good, it‘s like, yeah, but he‘s also the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: All right. There we have it, Jonathan. Seth setting himself up with self-deprecation, of course. I mean, he‘s very funny. But the president really not an easy act to follow.
ALTER: He‘s not. Because the president has good comic timing. He has shown that the last couple of years. He also gets that if you‘re self-effacing—he was making a joke there earlier about the Birther thing—that you‘re going to get more laughs.
And is the president. And an awful lot of the guests are people from his administration, which is the reason that Stephen Colbert, even though he was hilarious, didn‘t do well in the room in 2006, because there were so many Bush administration people in the room.
So it‘s a hometown crowd almost for the president. Even if the journalists—the conservatives I think would say they‘re part of the hometown crowd too. But even if they‘re less sympathetic, more willing to see some shots at the president, a lot of the administration officials there, you know, don‘t have much of a sense of humor when it comes to the boss.
ROBERTS: I want to talk more about the Colbert hosting gig, because you‘ve been to many of these dinners over the years, and your wife works with Stephen Colbert.
ALTER: Full disclosure.
ROBERTS: Who really went after Bush in 2006. So, in your estimation, how far is too far for these comedians to go? Because the flip side is they are accused of holding back in certain instances.
ALTER: Yes. I think if you are worried of going too far, as my friend Michael Kinsley says, you haven‘t gone far enough. To me, the good ones were Wanda Sykes, Steven Colbert, the comedians who offended a lot of people. That‘s what humor is supposed to do.
The not so good ones were Rich Little, who followed Colbert and really just bombed, and Jay Leno last year, who just didn‘t bring his A game.
(CROSS TALK)
ROBERTS: It‘s almost like going to a roast?
ALTER: Yeah.
ROBERTS: If you are feeling a little uncomfortable, then it‘s really good.
ALTER: Yeah. Yeah. If you are, you know, worried too much about the reaction of the room, it‘s important to remember a lot of people are watching on C-Span. So if folks from the audience are offended, for my money, that‘s OK. I get kind of disappointed when the comedian is not mean enough.
ROBERTS: I want to go over this, because I think everybody at home is going to find this pretty interesting. The tables—the “New Yorker” is bringing John Hamm, Zach Galifianakis and writer/directors the Cohen Brothers.
“People Magazine,” their table Bristol Palin, Mindy Caling from NBC‘s “The Office,” Stephen Tyler and Chris Colfer from “Glee.”
Then “Politico”—get this, they‘ve got this interesting mix. Look at these faces. They‘ve got Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congressman Anthony Weiner, Joan Rivers, and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
“The New York Times,” though, for the fourth year running, is boycotting these events continually now. So how do these weird seating assignments and arrangements, Jonathan, come together? I can‘t imagine Joan Rivers sitting next to Michael Steele.
ALTER: It‘s pretty funny. A lot of the Hollywood folks just started coming in the last ten to 15 years. It didn‘t used to be a big Hollywood event. It used to be that reporters brought their sources, which I find a little bit unseemly. I don‘t do that myself, to parade your sources out there.
Now, often they do bring celebrities. The match-ups are very—can be very amusing. One year at the “Newsweek” table, back when the Washington Redskins were the Superbowl champs, and their great running back John Riggins was sitting next to Sandra Day O‘Connor. Riggins was really drunk and he started to slide beneath the table, fall off his chair.
He noticed that Justice O‘Connor, who was then on the Supreme Court, was looking at him askance. And he said, “loosen up Sandy, Baby.” Those are the kinds of, you know, events at the table, stories at these tables that we like to saver.
ROBERTS: He sounds like someone I need to sit next to, to take attention off me. “The New York Times‘” boycott does point some criticism that we hear more ever year. “Washington Post” columnist Dana Milbank sums it up writing.
I know you said you don‘t like to parade your sources around. But when it comes to Hollywood, this is what Dana said: “Cee Lo Green sings for us. Seth Meyers tells the jokes. Lindsay Lohan‘s ex, Samantha Ronsin (ph), is our DJ. All the cool kids want to party with us. The Correspondent‘s Association Dinner was a minor annoyance for years when it was a nerd prom for journalists and few minor celebrities, but the event has spun out of control. Now awash with lobbyists and corporate money, it‘s another display of Washington excesses.”
Where do you come down on that one?
ALTER: Totally true. But, you know, sometimes nothing succeeds like excess. And I think you have to kind of lean back and enjoy it, as ridiculous as it is in its totality. You know, the old line—actually a good line from Jay Leno that politics is show business for ugly people. And the—you know, it is the one time of the year when the nerdy reporter type gets to be cool for a nanosecond with some Hollywood celebrity.
ROBERTS: It should be a fun evening, that‘s for sure. Jonathan Alter, MSNBC political analyst, thanks for joining me tonight. I appreciate it.
ALTER: Thanks, Thomas.
ROBERTS: You can watch the nerd prom for yourself, also known as the White House Correspondents‘ dinner, right her on MSNBC, Saturday night. I‘m going to hosting that beginning at 9:30 p.m. I hope you can join me.
Up next, today‘s wedding, moment by moment, as compared to the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, 30 years ago.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: The crowd of one million royal wedding watchers on the streets of London and many more watching on TV didn‘t just see the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge making their way to the alter. They saw nearly all the ladies on the guest list showing off the hottest trend in headwear: cocktail hats, or more accurately, fascinators, are often made up of feathers, flowers, jewels and lace.
Now, the fascination with fascinators is growing, with one retailer in this country reporting an 80 percent jump in sales.
It would be nearly impossible for those watching today‘s celebration not to think back to a July day in 1981 when Charles and Di said their vows. Here is a look at the magical moments then and now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I, Charles Phillip Arthur George --
PRINCE CHARLES, HEIR TO THE THRONE OF ENGLAND: I, Charles Phillip Arthur George --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take thee, Diana Francis—
PRINCE CHARLES: Take thee, Diana Francis—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to my wedded wife.
PRINCE CHARLES: -- to my wedded wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I, William Arthur Phillip Louis—
PRINCE WILLIAM, HEIR TO THE THRONE OF ENGLAND: I- William Arthur Philip Louis—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take thee, Catharine Elizabeth --
PRINCE WILLIAM: Take thee, Catharine Elizabeth—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To have and to hold—
KATE MIDDLETON, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE: -- to have and to hold—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- from this day forward—
MIDDLETON: -- from this day forward—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- for better or for worse—
MIDDLETON: -- for better or for worse—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- for richer or for poorer—
MIDDLETON: -- for richer or poorer—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- in sickness and in health—
MIDDLETON: -- in sickness and in health—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to love and to cherish—
MIDDLETON: -- to love and to cherish—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- till death us do part.
MIDDLETON: -- till death us do part.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this ring—
PRINCE CHARLES: With this ring—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thee wed.
PRINCE CHARLES: I thee wed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this ring, I thee wed.
PRINCE WILLIAM: With this ring, I thee wed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pronounce that they be man and wife together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pronounce that they be man and wife together in the name of the father, and of the son and of the holy ghost. Amen.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Sealed with a kiss and the crowd goes mad for it. All right, that‘s going to do it for THE LAST WORD tonight. I‘m Thomas Roberts. Lawrence and Rachel are going to return on Monday.
END
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